Video calls

Introduction to videoconference and teleconference calls

Calling others through a video link from your smartphone, tablet or laptop is an increasingly popular of communicating and does not normally cost anything if the other person is also signed up to the particular application. The normal way this is used is through one-to-one calls, but some of us have been testing out group videoconferencing and teleconferencing calls.

With the new way of life that we are now leading because of the restrictions as a result of coronavirus, we have been confined to our own homes more, and so it is especially important that u3a members are aware of these applications and feel comfortable about using them for themselves, for their families and friends, to join our weekly Connect on Thursday events, to link to their own u3a groups to keep in contact and where appropriate to continue group activities, and in other ways to help reduce isolation.

We have formed a technical advice team (the Tech Team), currently just three volunteers, and our aim is to be able to advise group organisers and members generally about aspects of using technology in their homes to keep connected with each other. As part of our work we have rapidly prepared one-page basic guides on videoconferencing and teleconferencing, and you can read and download PDFs of these guides - which are on using Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, Google Meet and Whypay. Just click or tap on these links immediately below or on the images at the bottom of this webpage:

• Using Zoom for videoconference calling

• Using Skype for videoconference calling

• Using WhatsApp for videoconference calling

• Using Google Meet for videoconferencing calling

• Using Whypay for teleconference calling

More details are in the sections below.

How to hold hybrid (or twinned) meetings using Zoom

If any members of any group are reluctant to meet face-to-face in person for any reason, one way to achieve their involvement is through a hybrid (or twinned) meeting. This would involve such members joining the in-person group simultaneously from their homes via videocalling such as through Zoom. We have produced some technical notes on how to do this in outside settings and in indoor settings - just click or tap on the images below or here: Guide to hybrid (twinned) meetings outdoors or Guide to hybrid (twinned) meetings indoors. In addition, Liz Thackray had produced an excellent video on this subject which has been posted on the national u3a's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAfduMSe3Pk&ab_channel=u3a

Videoconference calls

Here is some more information about some of the most popular videoconferencing applications:

Zoom

• Zoom * is a application tested and used by many of us and it comes highly recommended by technology professionals, and has increased in popularity since lockdown started. We use this extensively in our u3a (such as in our weekly Connect on Thursday meetings and in various of our interest group). The free version allows you to use it for up to 40 minutes in one session. If you want more time, just connect back in using the same link for a further 40 minutes, and repeat again if you want. Details are at https://zoom.us/. The U3A national office has produced a useful guide on how to use Zoom. Its guide for using Zoom on mobiles and tablets is at https://www.u3a.org.uk/advice/policy-downloads/using-zoom-on-phones-and-tablets/viewdocument/600, and its guide for using Zoom on a desktop computer is at https://www.u3a.org.uk/advice/policy-downloads/using-zoom-on-your-desktop/viewdocument/601.

• Video tutorials and guidance about Zoom. Zoom's own videos are at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-Video-Tutorials. Also the video at https://youtu.be/9guqRELB4dg is interesting and shows the real potential of Zoom. We have tried to reduce the guidance down to basics in a one-page PDF guide, and to read or download this, just scroll down and tap or click on the image with the Zoom heading towards the bottom of this webpage or click or tap here.

• Since we produced this, we have discovered more about Zoom, and Maurice has found an excellent tutorial video which is a great starting point and really tells you all you need to know in 12 minutes - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOUwumKCW7M . Plus a couple of videos I can recommend are 'How to join a Zoom meeting for the first time' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbbYqiurgeo&ab_channel=SmartSimpleDigital and 'How to host a Zoom meeting' at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwSo4GlFBck&ab_channel=SmartSimpleDigital

• Extra tips on using Zoom: A handy tip from Lesley is that Zoom seems to work best on a laptop computer and gallery view is probably best as it gives each the same size frame for each person and enboldens it in yellow when the person is speaking. Ian says that at the bottom of the Zoom window there’s a 'Participant' button: this opens an extra window showing all meeting participants' names along with who is the host, ability to figuratively raise your hand for attention and 'Mute' and ‘More' options buttons. You also have the ability to type text for people to view using the 'Chat’ button, and to save if you want. And Sheila has pointed out that different installations of Zoom can show somewhat different layouts on different devices but the main features are all there. It would be worthwhile playing around to gain familiarity and confidence.

Skype

• Skype is one of the original applications, and details are at https://www.skype.com/en/. Information about group calls is at https://www.skype.com/en/features/group-video-chat/, and this says it is now possible to link to up to 50 people. Further information about this is at https://blogs.skype.com/news/2016/02/18/announcing-group-video-calling-for-mobile-phones-and-tablets/ and https://blogs.skype.com/news/2019/04/04/call-up-to-50-people-at-once-with-skype/. There are a number of useful guides on aspects of Skype at https://www.wikihow.com/wikiHowTo?search=skype. We have tried to reduce the guidance down to basics in a one-page PDF guide, and to read or download this, just scroll down and tap or click on the image with the Skype heading towards the bottom of this webpage.

WhatsApp

• Although WhatsApp is used mostly for sending text and photos, it works really well for video-calls. We tried a group video call and this was very good with high quality video – but the maximum number you can have on any video call is four. See https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/iphone/26000028. A guide to WhatsApp calling is at https://www.wikihow.tech/Make-a-Call-on-WhatsApp. We have tried to reduce the guidance down to basics in a one-page PDF guide, and to read or download this, just scroll down and tap or click on the image with the WhatsApp heading towards the bottom of this webpage.

FaceTime

• FaceTime is only available for those who are using Apple products (e.g. iPhone, iPad, iPod or MacBook), and the quality is usually very good for one-to-one calls – see https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204380. Group calls are possible – but group calls will only work on more recent devices (using iOS 12 or later) – see https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT209022

Facebook Messenger

• Facebook Messenger also has video call capability, providing of course that both people are on Facebook. There is also the capability to add more people to the video call - see https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/21/17035494/facebook-messenger-audio-video-call-add-friends-family. And if you are thinking of setting up a closed Facebook Group for your group, there a guide to this at https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Closed-Facebook-Group).

Google Meet

• We had problems in setting up a group video call using Google Meet, although it seems to work satisfactorily on a one-to-one basis, and one of our members has very kindly prepared a guide and commentary about using this - Guide to using Google Meet.

• Duo is also offered by Google. Untested by us, but more information is at https://duo.google.com/about/

Microsoft Teams

• Microsoft Teams has been used by some of our members, but this seems to work best in organisations. Our own experience in using this has been very unsatisfactory and we do not recommend using this (unless the host and all the participants are familiar with it and are comfortable using it). More details are at https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software

Other applications

• There is a useful article on videocalling apps at https://www.digitalunite.com/technology-guides/smartphones-tablets/smartphones/best-video-calling-apps-android-phones.

• This mentions another app Viber, which has the apparent advantage that you do not need a user name and password, but the video group calls on this are limited to 5 people - see https://help.viber.com/en/article/make-a-group-voice-call-on-viber. Whether it supports video-calling isn't clear, and it may suit some people if they just want audio conferencing.

• Other video calling apps, again untested by us, are Whereby (https://whereby.com/user), Jitsi (https://jitsi.org/what-is-jitsi/) and Houseparty (https://houseparty.com/).

Handling meetings online

If you want to know more about how to handle meetings online, there is some useful detailed guidance in this 19-page PDF: https://fullcirc.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/SoYouWanttoHostaWebMeeting.pdf

Using your smartphone as a webcam

*Here's an extra tip about Zoom from Ian (Photo Group): Just in case you are a Zoom user and can't get hold of a webcam at the moment, here's a suggestion. You can use your Smartphone as a webcam. There are a number of pieces of software that allow you to do this. The one I would recommend is called iVCam - https://www.e2esoft.com/ivcam/

1. What you need to do is to download the ivCam app onto your phone.

2. And download the ivCam client software onto your laptop/computer.

3. Open the apps on both phone and laptop.

4. At some point the phone will show you that you have connected, (by the camera image showing on the phone).

5. Open Zoom on the computer and click (top left) 'New Meeting'

6. Your camera image will probably show as you open the meeting.

7. If it doesn't...go to the 'stop video' (bottom left) icon on Zoom. Click on the up arrow. Select e2eSoft iVCam.

8. Bingo! you should see the image there!

You can link the phone to the computer with wifi or usb cable. NB if you are on a MAC then the software I would recommend is called EpocCam. (It's not as good as iVCam, but as far as I know it's the best one for Macs) - http://www.kinoni.com/

Teleconference calls

An alternative to group video calls is teleconferencing, which is an audio-only group telephone call. Whypay is a company that offers a very good service which can allow any number up to 50 people to join a group telephone call. This has the advantage that it is easily accessible and it does not require a computer apart from the initial set-up by the organiser. The service is free and you can dial in from either a landline or mobile phone (but note that standard phone charges apply if you do not have an unlimited minutes contract on your landline or if you exceed the number of included minutes in your mobile phone contract). More details are at https://whypay.net/compare-plans/. We have tried to reduce the guidance down to basics in a one-page PDF guide, and to read or download this, just scroll down and tap or click on the image with the Whypay heading below.

Our Tech Team have been testing this out, and once set up, it seems that the organiser doesn't even need to be present! Just use the same dial in number, Room number and PIN each time. So all you need to do is to agree amongst yourselves the time you wish to have your teleconference call, and then go ahead and connect in the usual way.

The u3a national office has also produced a useful guide on how to use Whypay. You and see this and download it as a PDF at https://www.u3a.org.uk/advice/policy-downloads/using-whypay/viewdocument/599

If you have used any of these applications and if you if any comments on the guides we have produced or anything else on this, please let us know. You can email me at johnh@exmouthu3a.org.uk